About Warm Springs TERO

Empowering Native Workers and Businesses Through Sovereignty and Opportunity

The Warm Springs Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) exists to protect and promote the rights of Native American workers and Native-owned businesses within the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Our mission is to ensure that construction and development projects on or near the Warm Springs Reservation include meaningful employment, training, and contracting opportunities for Native people.

We believe that sovereignty is not only a legal foundation — it’s a living expression of self-determination, fairness, and community strength.

Our Mission

To advance economic justice by enforcing Native employment preference, supporting job readiness, and building pathways for Native-owned businesses to participate fully in regional construction and infrastructure projects.

We:

  • Enforce the Warm Springs Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO).
  • Provide fair access to employment and contracting opportunities.
  • Offer workforce development and training for tribal members.
  • Build relationships between contractors and Native workers.
  • Certify and promote Native-owned businesses for contracting work.

Read the TERO Code

Our History

The Warm Springs TERO program was established as part of a national movement among federally recognized Tribes to assert their sovereign right to govern employment and business practices within their territories.

The first Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO) was enacted in the 1970s by tribes seeking to address the exclusion of Native Americans from job opportunities generated by projects on their own lands.

Following this model, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs adopted their own TERO law to:

  • Prevent discrimination in hiring and contracting.
  • Ensure qualified Native workers have priority for employment.
  • Encourage training and long-term skill development.
  • Promote self-sufficiency and tribal economic growth.

Today, the Warm Springs TERO Office continues that legacy — applying these principles to modern projects while building partnerships rooted in respect, transparency, and collaboration.

What We Do Today

The TERO Office serves as both a compliance agency and a community resource center.

We work closely with:

  • Construction companies, contractors, and ODOT project managers.
  • Native workers seeking employment or training opportunities.
  • Tribal enterprises and Native-owned construction firms.
  • Local governments and industry partners.

Our daily work includes:

  • Reviewing project plans to ensure compliance with TERO laws.
  • Referring qualified Native workers to contractors.
  • Hosting training and certification sessions for the workforce.
  • Certifying Native-owned businesses through the TERO Commission.
  • Supporting communication between employers and tribal leadership.

The Authority of Sovereignty

The Tribe’s right to enact and enforce TERO laws is grounded in its inherent sovereign authority — the right to govern its lands, resources, and people.
This means that employers and contractors operating on or near the Warm Springs Reservation must honor and uphold the Tribe’s preference laws.

By exercising these rights, TERO helps ensure that the economic benefits of development remain connected to the tribal community, supporting families, education, and the long-term well-being of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Our Team

The Warm Springs TERO Office is staffed by dedicated professionals who serve as advocates, compliance officers, and community liaisons.

Mary Sando-Emhoolah, a Warm Springs Tribal Member and Shareholder of the Chugach Alaska Corporation, is among our key staff.

Mary represents the spirit of collaboration and commitment that guides the TERO Office — strengthening opportunities for Native workers while ensuring employers meet their responsibilities with integrity and respect.

TERO Commission

The Warm Springs TERO Commission is a governing body that oversees certification of Native-owned businesses, reviews policy updates, and ensures fair enforcement of the TERO Ordinance.

The Commission also serves as an advisory board, working in cooperation with Tribal Council and the TERO Office to protect employment rights and promote economic participation.

Our Vision

To build a strong, skilled, and self-sustaining Native workforce that leads the future of construction and infrastructure development — both within and beyond the Warm Springs Reservation.

Through enforcement, education, and collaboration, TERO upholds a simple truth:
when Native people work, communities grow stronger.